KUALA LUMPUR: The police chiefs of Kuala Lumpur and eight states have been promoted to the new rank of Senior Deputy Commissioner (SDCP).

Following years of proposals and planning, the Government had finally agreed to the im­­plementation of the new rank, said Inspector-Ge­­neral of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

“The new rank will be attributed to police chiefs and Commissioners from Johor, Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Pahang, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak and Selangor.

“The police chiefs of Kelantan, Malacca, Ne­­gri Sembilan and Terengganu will be promoted to Deputy Commissioner,” he said during the promotion ceremony of the respective police chiefs and their deputies at Bukit Aman yesterday.

Khalid said that with the social and demographic developments within the country, the promotions came at the right time.

“As our country grows, so do the responsibilities of the policemen, and it is only appropriate that these leaders get their promotions,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had also pointed out that the police needed to be given more attention.

He said that Bukit Aman would also petition for promotions for a number of senior police officers serving there.

During the promotion ceremony, a reshuffle was announced with Perak police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan named as the new Selangor chief with the rank of Senior Deputy Comm.

The new deputy Selangor police chief was now Senior Asst Comm Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar, the current Penang deputy police chief. He was promoted to Deputy Comm.